Saturday. March 31st.

I have passed one day in study, another in fishing and a third in laziness which is
not giving a very good account of my time. But I hope soon to do better. On Thursday,
I wrote to Abby and propose to continue the practise twice a week during the remainder
of my stay here. Wyer called to see me on that day and was as talkative as ever, after
all saying nothing whatever. A pleasant rattle. Mr. Walsh of Philadelphia1 and Mr. Daniel Brent dined with us today. The former seems to be fully disposed to
come right again provided his variable temper will allow him. I do not admire his
political character although his literary reputation is deservedly high. And his conversational
powers are very great—perhaps by this I say too much, from an acquaintance too short;
but he is certainly pleasant. My father being { 116 } much taken with the miniature of myself which I had taken for Abby, seems as I understand
to express a wish that I should sit for a large portrait for him. I accordingly made
arrangements with Mr. King for it.2 My father was uncommonly eloquent after dinner today, and laid himself out more forcibly
than usual. When he does so, how immeasureably he rises above all others. There is
no comparison.

1. Robert Walsh (1784–1859), the Pennsylvania journalist and literary man, who was co-editor of the National Gazette from 1820 to 1835 and editor of the American Quarterly Review from 1827 to 1837, was in Washington to seek federal appointments for his political
friends (DAB; JQA, Memoirs, 7:251–252).

Fishing and study have constituted my most general amusements for the last week. Now
and then, a sitting to Mr. King, and a letter to Abby which form my varieties of life.
And in the evening, Conversation or cards with the family—and strange to say I find
great pleasures in this life.

But I am tired of this way of writing my Journal. And I have now another plan. My
intention for the summer is to study according to { 117 } | view the following plan. Premising that my rising hour is to be six o’clock, a great change
from my old habits.

Immediately after rising, I write [the] Executive Record until four pages are completed and devote the rest of the time until
breakfast to Maltebrun, and his study of Geography. At ten I commence Law and continue
until one o’clock. At two I read Miscellany or write letters until four. And from
four until five read a Classic. The remainder of the evening to leisure and the family—excepting
only that after ten, it is my wish to record nightly how far I have kept my original determination. For after all, this is the only plan
by which a journal can be carried on. In order to form a clear view of my proposition
I subjoin it in numerals.

Rise at six o’clock

6.

Executive Record, two hours

to 8.

2.

Maltebrun’s Geography, one hour

to 9. Morning.

1.

Breakfast, one hour’s recess

10. o’clock

Law, three hours

to 1. Noon.

3.

Luncheon, one hour’s recess

2. o’clock

Miscellaneous reading or letter writing

to 4.

2.

Study of Classics, one hour

to 5. Evening.

1.

Leisure, Amusement, & Conversation, five hours

5.

I have in this manner sketched a plan which I am anxious to pursue as closely as possible—and
note my omissions as they occur. That they will be numerous I do not doubt. If however
my performances exceed my negligences, it will be doing enough for a beginning. On
some days, I shall do nothing, on others other engagements will interfere, but still
it is something to have a plan—and so be it from this time forward.2

2. On this day, at least, CFA stuck closely to his schedule, spending the rainy morning
at home working on the Executive Record, reading Starkie’s Treatise on Evidence, and studying geography. He spent the evening playing cards with his family (D/CFA/1).